How big can a rocky planet get? Can a rocky planet turn into a gas giant? Why are some planets rocky and others gassy? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!
Jun 21st: How Big Can Planets Get?
Paul M. Sutter Archive
Jun 7th: How Do Black Holes Affect Their Galaxies?
How do giant black holes shut off star formation? How do they turn it back on? Which came first, the black hole or the galaxy? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!
May 17th: Why is Gravity So Weak?
How did gravity get so ridiculously weak? Could it be related to extra dimensions? What does string theory and the concept of the “bulk” have to do with it?
May 3rd: Should We Be Afraid of the Dipole Repeller?
What is the dipole repeller? Why is it a dipole? What is it repelling? What is the Bootes Void and how is it connected to dark energy?
Apr 19th: What Solves the Twin Paradox?
What does everybody think is the twin paradox? What’s the REAL twin paradox? How is the paradox resolved, and what does it teach us about synchronicity? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!
Apr 5th: How Does Radioactive Decay Work?
How was radioactive decay discovered? What are the different kinds of decay? How does quantum mechanics make all this happen? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!
Mar 15th: What Are Some Alternatives to the Big Bang Theory?
What makes the Big Bang theory so successful? How were alternatives ruled out? What are the electric universe and steady state theories? Do any other options remain, like conformal cyclic cosmology?
Mar 1st: What are Lagrange Points?
Why are Lagrange points so crucial to astronomy? What makes even simple gravity so difficult? How do you “put” something at a Lagrange point?
Feb 15th: What’s So Fine About the Fine Structure Constant?
What is the fine structure constant? Where does it come from? Why is it so important? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!
Feb 1st: What Is Loop Quantum Gravity?
Why do we care about loop quantum gravity? Is it a viable path to uniting quantum mechanics and general relativity? What does it mean for spacetime to be discrete?